Latest news with #PaulaStannard
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump admin brings Harvard antisemitism case to Justice Dept. after ‘fruitless' discussions
The Department of Health and Human Services referred its antisemitism investigation into Harvard University to the Department of Justice, calling its discussions with the institution 'fruitless,' according to a Wednesday letter. The letter, sent by Paula Stannard, the director of the Office for Civil Rights, comes after the office determined Harvard had violated civil rights law based on its 'deliberate indifference' towards campus antisemitism. The Trump administration also threatened to cut all federal funding from Harvard. 'Rather than voluntarily comply with its obligations under Title VI, Harvard has chosen scorched-earth litigation against the Federal government,' Stannard said. After months of conversation and without voluntary compliance from Harvard, Stannard said the Trump administration has 'no choice' but to refer the matter to the Department of Justice for potential legal action. A Harvard spokesperson didn't respond to a request for comment. Read more: Trump used her story to attack Harvard. She says 'don't destroy the university in my name' The letter comes amid a potential deal between Harvard and the Trump administration. Harvard is open to a potential $500 million settlement as a means of ending the months-long battle with the Trump administration, according to reporting from The New York Times. The talk of a settlement comes after Trump publicly announced in June that the federal government was in talks with Harvard over a ''mindbogglingly' HISTORIC' deal that would occur 'over the next week or so.' Democrats in the House and Senate who are alums of Harvard are also threatening an investigation into the negotiations if the university does make a deal with the Trump administration, according to exclusive reporting from Axios. What has happened between the Trump admin and Harvard? The Trump administration has gone after Harvard since April, cutting billions of dollars. Demanding an overhaul of Harvard's leadership structure, admissions and hiring — the federal government warned the school could risk losing $9 billion in funding. Harvard rejected those demands, stating they seek to 'invade university freedoms long recognized by the Supreme Court.' Then the fight over funding occurred. It began with a $2.2 billion funding freeze on April 14 after the school refused to comply with the federal administration's demands. In response, Harvard filed a lawsuit on April 21, arguing that its constitutional rights had been violated by the government's threats to pull billions of dollars in funding. Harvard President Alan Garber also signed onto a letter with hundreds of other university presidents pushing back against 'government overreach and political interference' by the Trump administration. At the beginning of May, the Trump administration said it would bar Harvard University from acquiring new federal grants while the school continues to refuse to comply with the administration's demands for change on its campus. A few days later, eight federal agencies cut $450 million in grants and then the United States Department of Health and Human Services cut $60 million in grants from the university. Harvard went on to amend its lawsuit against the Trump administration. On May 16, a wave of nearly one thousand federal research grant terminations began, amounting to more than $2.4 billion, according to an analysis by Nature. In response, Harvard established a new Presidential Priorities Fund, asking for donations in the midst of federal cuts. Some of Harvard's schools, including its School of Public Health, took to social media to ask for donations after nearly every single federal grant had been terminated. Other investigations and threats have been made against the institution, some of which have focused on threatening the university's ability to enroll international students. This prompted Harvard to open a second lawsuit against the Trump administration over its ability to accept international students. Most recently, the State Department opened an investigation into Harvard University's use of international visas. The Department of Homeland Security has also subpoenaed Harvard over its failure to provide documents concerning the misconduct or criminal actions of foreign students. More Higher Ed Trump used her story to attack Harvard. She says 'don't destroy the university in my name' Harvard hands over employee ID verification info after Trump subpoena Harvard is open to paying $500 million to settle with Trump admin, NYT reports Here's every mention of Harvard in the lyrics of Tom Lehrer Mass. college earns spot among 30 'most beautiful campuses' in US Read the original article on MassLive.
CBS News
24-06-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Federal investigation underway on Michigan health system over alleged religious rights violation
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights said it has launched an investigation into a Michigan health system over an alleged religious beliefs violation. HHS says an organizational health care provider within the health system is accused of firing a medical professional after she requested accommodations from certain employment practices due to religious beliefs. Those practices included using a patient's preferred pronouns and assisting in "sex trait modification procedures," according to a news release. The department says the investigation will be conducted under conscience protection laws known as the Church Amendments and examine whether the health system has policies that comply with the amendments. The Church Amendments prohibit government or government-funded entities from discriminating against individuals, health care entities and providers because of religious beliefs and moral convictions. The department did not release the name of the health system under investigation. "OCR (Office for Civil Rights) is committed to enforcing Federal conscience laws in health care," said director Paula M. Stannard in a statement. "Health care workers should be able to practice both their professions and their faith." HHS claims the investigation is the third under President Trump's second term "to determine an entity's compliance with Federal laws that safeguard health care professionals' conscience rights in health care." The department opened investigations in April and May into two other hospitals in the United States. In 2019, HHS issued a finalized "Conscience Rule" that protected health care professionals who refused to provide care that violates their religious beliefs.
